Mission
The mission of the Finance Department of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe is to provide world-class processing of financial transactions to allow for the most timely and accurate financial information, which will allow management to strategically manage the Tribe’s resources and objectives.
Administration/Accounting
The Controller is in charge of the Accounting Office, which is responsible for the accounting for nearly all of the accounting functions for the Permanent Fund. The Director of Budget and Planning is responsible for preparation of budgets and reports and is involved in strategic long-term planning.
Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable (AP/AR)
The goal of the Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable team is to ensure that all bills are paid when due and all revenues of the tribe are recorded and collected when earned. A full-time front desk person also supports the team in the cashiering function and provides reception for the entire Finance Department.
General Ledger/Fixed Assets
The General Ledger/Fixed Assets group’s primary function is to record and report financial transactions and reconcile assets and liabilities on a monthly basis. This group also processes the distribution of mitigation, elder’s retirement, dividend, and discretionary special payments to the Tribal membership.
Purchasing/Central Receiving
The Purchasing team coordinates the procurement and distribution of goods and services and facilitates travel requirements for the Tribal organization. When a Tribal department needs goods, services, or travel for Tribal business, a Purchase Requisition or a Travel Request is submitted to the Purchasing Office. Purchasing reviews the request to ensure that the request is properly authorized and coded. A search for vendors, products, services, and best prices is conducted before sourcing a requisition to the appropriate vendor. When goods are received, they are entered into PeopleSoft as having been received and are then delivered to the appropriate departments.
Purchasing also manages and stocks a Central Supply Room with expendable office, janitorial, and break room supplies.
Tribal Credit
Tribal Credit manages a line of credit program for the Tribal membership and helps eligible Tribal members obtain low-interest-rate home mortgage loans.
Tribal Credit maintains loan records and files, collects payments, and protects the Tribe’s interests by monitoring the collateral underlying the loans.
Contracts and Grants
The Contracts and Grants office works with Tribal departments to apply for and manage substantial funding from federal, state, and private granting agencies. Funding from Public Law 93-638 contracts, along with grants or cooperative agreements from other agencies, is devoted to Tribal Self-Determination, assuring the Tribe directs, plans, and administers its own programs for education, culture, social services, economic development, agriculture, environmental protection, health and wellness, law enforcement, construction projects, Tribal Court, water resources, and disaster preparedness.
The Contracts and Grants office is also responsible for ensuring that funding received is spent in accordance with granting agency requirements.
Payroll
The Payroll Office provides payroll services for the Tribal Government’s Permanent Fund and all Growth Fund entities and Southern Ute Shared Services. Paychecks are processed on a bi-weekly basis. Appropriate tax reports are submitted to the IRS and five state tax agencies with tribal employment locations.
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